Bears in the woods

I say let them. They’re not much of a threat and Russia knows fine well their strategically vulnerable area isn’t in the West so they can have a bit of fun at our end without risking anything, they know fine well Western/Central Europe has little/no interest in Russia either way as long as we have a quiet life. And if Putin wants to repeat the mistakes of the Soviet era by pumping huge sums into weapons rather than developing his economy, social care and civic improvement then let him, it’s his country.

I agree, it is merely posturing, and should not be taken seriously.
The Bear is good for little more than maritime patrol, and ASW.

PLaneguy51

The Best

I wish this was an American forum so much from time to time…

Well, I guess I’ll put in my two cents.
Some time ago, I read somewhere that the Israeli Air Force was the best.
I remember some military guy during the gulf war saying the Canadians were very good at ACM.
The acid test for ANY Airforce is combat.
On that basis, the IAF gets my vote.
Realistic training is important, but is is extremely difficult to say who is best,
when most of the world’s Air Forces have not been in combat recently.

PLANEGUY51

Nasty Chuck

Britain isn’t to be mentioned anywhere near Yeager. This is the man that is quoted he would rather have fought the British than the Germans.

I have met a number of distinguished pilots, some of whom were American, who have no time for this man at all. Never met him myself but fom what I have heard I have no wish to.

I am sorry to hear that.
If he indeed feels that way about the Brits, I don’t want to meet him either.
THe British have been our friends through thick and thin for a very long time,
and I hope it stays that way.

Stealthman

Good Fiction

Yes I’ve heard that the film is not to be mentioned in the vicinity of Yeager…

I rather like it myself, and it’s obviously a work of fiction – anyone who thinks it is actually trying to claim the sound barrier for Britain is deluding themselves. The opening credits announce that the picture is ‘also starring… the Vickers Supermarine Swift (powered by Rolls Royce Avon)’

I think I remember that the movie was inspired by the life of
Geoffry DeHavilland, and that Richard Todd starred as him in that picture.
I built a model of that jet, when I was a boy.
PLANEGUY51

Read the whole post

Ermmmmmmm …. so could the Hunter :confused:

Yes I know.
Read the whole post. The Sabre was in service BEFORE the Hunter.

I don’t think so.

H’mm first aircraft to take off and land under it’s own power, well it’s got to be British hasn’t it!!! 😀

I’m excluding the Bell X-1 as it wasn’t propelled by a traditional jet engine as we know it today. So on this basis, I’m going to put forward the Hawker Hunter in September 1953.

Let’s not forget that if the British Government had given our aviation pioneers more backing and support the English would have defo been the first to break the sound barrier with the Miles M.52. When design started in 1942, the M.52 was supposed to have been able to fly at something like 1,000mph or over, with the ability to climb to 36,000 feet in 1.5 minutes.

You can see what remains of this project at the Berkshire Museum of Aviation.

The Hunter was a fine airplane, but the F86 could go supersonic in a dive,
and was in service before the Hunter.

[QUOTE=Mark12]
It suffered the above damage at Palacious, Texas, on 15 May 1981. The pilot’s name was reported at the time as Gerald Martin. NX9BL of the then Confederate Air Force.

Gerald Martin was one of the CAF pilots selected to fly for the Battle of Britain film.

Septic.

How do you think the Spit would do against a Mustang?

Thought it might be interesting to find out what others peoples ‘most eagerly awaited’ restoration to flight status project is.

My list is:-

TFC Beaufighter
TFC Fiat CR.42
MAAM P-61 Black Widow
Seafire FR.47 at Nelson Ezell’s
Bob Jens’s Mosquito B.35
Pete Vacher’s Mk1 Hurricane

I would like to include the former Flying A, now FHC FW 190, but not sure if it will ever be flown or we’re ever likely to see it, and similarily Kermit’s Tempest V, will they really risk flying a Napier Sabre, if they ever get it running:confused: 😮

And if I really entered the realms of fantasy land I would also include:rolleyes:
The D**k Melton Walrus project
The ex-Jet Heritage Swift project

I would love to see MAAM’s P61 fly again.
I don’t think there are any other Black Widows flying.